RAWALPINDI(National Times)- With the arrest of five more under-trial prisoners (UTPs) who escaped from a police prisoner van, the number of re-arrested escapees has risen to 12.
Police believe the remaining two UTPs will also be apprehended shortly.
A fact-finding committee constituted by City Police Officer (CPO) Syed Khalid Hamdani is investigating the negligence that led to the escape of 14 UTPs from a police prisoner van while they were being transported from Kahuta to Adiala Jail on Monday.
The committee is also probing why the cases of 36 prisoners, many of them hardened criminals with previous criminal records, were fixed for hearing on the same day.
Investigators are examining why the prisoners in the van were not handcuffed, why no escort vehicle accompanied the prisoner van while such a large number of inmates were being transported, and how and when the prisoners obtained red chilli powder, which they allegedly threw into the eyes of the police guards.
According to sources close to the investigation, the escape plan was hatched inside the jail because all of the UTPs who escaped belonged to the Kahuta area.
Meanwhile, Rawalpindi police have reviewed security arrangements for transporting prisoners from Adiala Jail to the Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATCs). Under the revised arrangements, prisoners will be transported in Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), which are heavily protected police vehicles.
In case an APC is unavailable, police will contact the Regional Police Officer for alternative arrangements. Special police pickets will be deployed during the transportation of prisoners involved in the most serious cases, while the traffic police will ensure clear routes.
It was also decided that the faces of high-profile or dangerous inmates would be covered with black cloth hoods while being transported between the jail and the ATCs to prevent them from communicating with others or being recognised.
Prisoners being tried in ATCs will be handcuffed with their hands behind their backs in the presence of the guard in charge, who will ensure the handcuffs are secure and retain custody of the keys. Handcuffing suspects behind their backs minimises the chances of overpowering police personnel or snatching a weapon, a police official said.
The SHO of the concerned police station will escort the APC during transportation. An Elite Force commando vehicle will follow the SHO’s vehicle, while another Elite Force vehicle will escort the APC from the rear.
Police also decided that prisoners must be thoroughly searched to ensure they are not carrying any weapon, blade or mobile phone while being transported from jail. They will also be strictly prevented from meeting anyone during transit.
According to the police spokesman, Rawalpindi police have made further progress in the operation to arrest the escaped prisoners, with four more suspects involved in serious criminal cases taken into custody.
The arrested suspects are being handed over to Islamabad police in connection with the case registered at Sihala Police Station. So far, 12 escaped prisoners have been re-arrested, while the remaining two will also be arrested soon and brought to justice, the spokesman said.
